Yoshu Chikanobu, Sasaki Takatsuna and Kajiwara Kagesue\., 1898, Woodcut

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Nishiki-e (color woodcut print) on paper, table from the series "Heike Monogatari" (The Tale of the Heike). Printed in 1898. … Read more Nishiki-e (color woodcut print) on paper, table from the series "Heike Monogatari" (The Tale of the Heike). Printed in 1898. Oban horizontal format. Signed "Yoshu Chikanobu" with the artist's red seal within the block Inscribed with the historical character names "Sasaki" and "Kajiwara" in the upper right cartouche A beautifully composed, dynamic Meiji-period musha-e (warrior print) by Yoshu Chikanobu, a master printmaker best known for capturing both transitional Meiji social life and historic epic narratives. This print represents a key plate from his highly collected series illustrating events from the Heike Monogatari (The Tale of the Heike), an epic account of the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto clans for control of Japan The print illustrates one of the most celebrated military competitions in Japanese lore: The Crossing of the Uji Riverduring the Battle of Uji (1184). Shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo had gifted his two finest warhorses—the white stallion Ikezuki and the black stallion Surusumi—to his top commanders, Sasaki Takatsuna and Kajiwara Kagesue, sparking a fierce rivalry over who would claim the honor of being the first to cross the flooded, treacherous river to engage the enemy The print is pulled on fine Japanese mulberry paper with a very good strike and rich coloration, retaining the crisp blue block lines of the churning waves and the distinctive geometric armor cords. The margins remain intact and present an overall clean sheet with minor, uniform age-toning typical of late 19th-century ehon and album leaves. Free of major handling folds, backing papers, or restoration, ensuring an excellent visual presentation. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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